WACO : Annual Review 2008/9 browse

Annual Report 2008/9

WACO/Board Composition and Structure

Filled vacant NW region representative with appointee Linda Anslem.
Dana Hills resigned the Sec position (accepted job in Nenana).
MaryLou Frahm was voted onto the Board in the Secretary position.
Sadly, were required to remove 3 representatives from the Board for too many absences: Past Chair, Chamber of Commerce, She-Mon-Sun. Continue to track attendance and encourage responsibility for accepted obligation. Road Service rep has long been resigned from the Board and the Garden Club has not had a rep in a long time. Anticipate this will be addressed in the proposed bylaws revisions.
Elected to not renew the rental contract with the WHWF for use of the Old Log Cabin.
Sabrina Christley joins Pat Madigan and Shirley Wakeman in leadership of the Community Enrichment program.
Discontinued the publishing of the Breeze. Many thanks to Mary Shreves for 15 years of editorial direction and untold numbers of reminders to the rest of us! Mini Breeze being posted by Claire Fitzgerald. Advising community members and others to use our wonderful website.
Logo contest near completion with many wonderful submissions by community members.
Summary judgment granted WACO in lawsuit brought against us by the Pralles. Have further decided that we will take no further action unless significant new information is brought to our attention. (I.e.We will not be pursing the option of getting some of our legal fees back from them at this time.)
Financing wish list being kept as part of agenda and minutes so that as either money achieved by grants/donations or past expenses from WACO money we are better prepared to know how the community would like for us to spend it.

Major Actions Achieved in Last Year

Trails committee active participant in establishing groomed trail from Big Lake to Denali.
Thanks to WDMA and Trails Committee, trails on the east side of the highway are being GPS’d!
Drafted letter to MSB requesting Rogers Creek and Deception Creek units be designated Resource Management, with a secondary designation of Public Recreation/Watershed Lands as part of their updating the MSB Forest Unit Plan.
Letters sent, testimony provided in various venues and joint resolution crafted with Houston City Council regarding the proposed Teeland to Douglas substation freight electrical line development.
Letter sent to DNR requesting that Bouillon Hill be maintained with the designation of scenic site with panoramic view in response to their revision process on the South East Susitna Plan.
Received $30,000 grant from State to build a storage shed for emergency response groups: CERT, WDMA, Red Cross, WACO.
Letter sent to Division of Oil and Gas in response to Houston-Willow Basin Gas Exploration License Proposal.
Received letter from Senator Stevens advising that he has encouraged the STB to consider our concerns as they develop process and decisions regarding the Rail Spur from Point Mac to the main line in response to our keeping him informed.
Ideas collected and Willow represented at Senator Huggins Energy Roundtable; a several meeting forum to help him develop plans on this important project in Juneau. His goal is to achieve a menu of energy support options that are regionally appropriate.
Successfully advocated for $210,000 left over from other Comm Ctr projects completed by the borough remain for use on the Comm Center.
Active collaboration with key Iditarod leaders regarding issues/needs for the restart.
Letter of support for the Susitna Community Council (formerly the Y Community Council) for a Parks Highway underpass.
Provided verbal and written input to the Nancy Lake State Recreation management plan.
Requested Borough leadership to address the gap of ordinance for the drilling of Natural Gas. (In response to the state having changed their rules such that all gas is now considered natural gas, thus end running the boroughs Methane Gas Ordinance).
Joint Resolution crafted between Willow and Houston supporting the Rail Spur route thru Houston.

Major Events Successfully Conducted or Supported

1st Blue Tarp & Carhartts Ball held May 3!! Raised $400 for Willow Food Bank
Several wonderful Community Enrichment Programs held thruout the year from Willow Tots to Children’s Ballet to Movie Nights to weekend brunchs.
Received plaque from Willow Elementary for our support of their fund raising efforts at all of our dinner events.
Attended the dedication of the Animal Control Building, MatSu Borough.
An awesome 4th of July parade, picnic, Costumed Pet show,Fun Run, games, etc!! More than 400 people and 18 floats; Channel 2 TV coverage of the best dressed pets!
Spaghetti dinner held in conjunction with the WDMA following their incredibly success Dog Mushing Symposium.
Another delicious Octoberfest thanks to cook Walter Adolphs and many volunteers! Wonderful table centerpieces from a number of local organizations.
PTA events supported that needed our gaming and raffle support.
Junior Iditarod
Iditarod Restart; we are now the official restart site!!
Another wonderful Holiday Bazaar, thanks Shirley Wakeman!
An awesome Carnival with huge attendance! Especially rewarding was the Arts & Crafts Display at the School in conjunction with the PTA’s delicious breakfast one weekend! Many thanks to a very large number of volunteers and particularly to Pat Madigan and Shirley Wakeman, co-chairs.

Community Center Improvements

Propane lines cleared out.
Kitchen Pantry cleaned out, cleaned up, painted, shelving installed, and many new items for public use purchased
Many thanks still to Zolari & Slade Avalon for the tremendous floor improvements in the auditorium!
7 community volunteers passed the Food Mangers Program and have obtained certification from DEC. They will help guide us in all aspects of management of the kitchen.
$60,000 emergency generator (state funded) and all new electrical devices installed in the community center (funding for the upgrades inside from the borough)
One boiler has been refurbished; the other still needs doing.
Doors fixed.
Cold air draft thru vent addressed.
Lions are using some of the apartment to store their supplies/equipment.

Finances In/Out

Many thanks continue to Sully’s and Pioneer Lodge for selling our pull tabs!! Thanks to them and to austerity measures by many volunteers, we achieved a positive balance on our budget.
Reviewed process by which we accept requests from students for funding via Community Scholarships.
Significant savings noted since upgrades to electrical system installed.
Continue to work towards better/appropriate control of the heating and air exchange systems with appropriate Borough staff.
Continued wonderful grant support sought and achieved by the Trails Committee, many thousands of dollars.
First year of $6000 rental from Iditarod for restart activities (up from $4000).
Earned about $500 on the Spaghetti Dinner in conjunction with WDMA.
Octoberfest earned about $4800.
WACO insurance now includes trail groomers supported by Trails committee grants. The grants garnered by Trails will pay the additional premiums.
Received $20,200 in revenue sharing format from the state; decisions to be made by community councils within guidelines determined by the borough.
Approximately $21,000 was netted from the Carnival including $100 donations from the Don Bower Memorial Race and the Vintage Snowmachine Show.

Processes that will continue into the next year

Trails committee working with WHO to develop pedestrian trail system thruout Willow.
Awaiting next step of the STB regarding the Rail Spur.
Tracking and participating in the 50 year Energy Plan development via Alaska Energy Authority including the Teeland to Douglas Substation freight electrical lines, possibility of a bullet gas line, gas drilling options, better options for commuters to/from Anchorage. Current status: in Energy Committees in House and Senate, Juneau. Information from Senator Huggins Energy Roundtable expected to be included in these processes.
Await DNR decision about Bouillon Hill in the Southeast Susitna Plan, currently on Directors desk for consideration.
Bylaws committee working hard. Anticipate readiness for community votes in near future. Legal advice is being used to assure compliance with codes/laws etc.
Audit committee working hard. Anticipate report in near future.
Tracking and supporting the Borough led Comprehensive Planning Team. Anticipate a draft final plan in the next few months for community review.
Finish building the emergency response storage shed!
Track the borough’s draft Natural Gas Ordinance.
Continue to track the status of our new water filter to address the new federal standards for arsenic.
Track the Nancy Lake State Recreation management plan as information becomes available.
New water heater being installed next year.
An Emergency Communication Center is being developed by local ham operators with help from Mike Heusser and the MARA Club and expected to be housed at Comm Ctr..
Monitor Crowley’s fuel delivery. Currently does not meet standard set by Newman’s. Will encourage borough staff to return to contract with Newman’s.
Letter to be sent in support of the PTA’s efforts to fund nutritional education and exercise after school. (Motion already passed.)

MOST IMPORTANTLY, FIND WAYS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE FUN AND FUNCTIONS OF WILLOW!!!!

Respectfully submitted,
Linda Oxley, Chair
5.09

Willow Area Community Organization
Linda Oxley, Chair
Phone: 2615 Email: chair@waco-ak.org
Meets: 1st Monday/Month, WCC, 7:00PM